The first month of the World Race I was in Jaco, Costa Rica working with an organization called Oceans Edge.
During our time there we mainly did construction work on the property. Every day we had a 9-5 schedule. Although it was very tiring it was also very rewarding to see the progress that we made. We were able to help maintain the property, install proper water drainage like a french ditch, build a temporary roof, paint, etc. In us volunteering we were able to save the organization money from having to pay people to do these taks.
We were in charge of collecting information from local business to be put on a website. In doing this we also had opportunities to do evangelism and collect prayer request from individuals who worked in the community. Once we collected the prayer request the Women’s Ministry at the church had an event where we mapped out the city and did intercession at the church (prayed for the whole city just in one location).
Every Saturday we were in charge of running Kids Club at the local park for the local church. We would give a message, do crafts and love on the kids. The turn out was usually between 50-100 individuals (this includes their families that stuck around). Each kid received a snack while there and left with a bag of beans and rice to take home.
Every Sunday we ran Sunday School and/or attend the church service. We were able to provide relief to the usual teachers so that they had a break. During the month we also helped with a volunteer dinner where we got to serve about 50 volunteers in the church.
Here are some other projects we got to volunteer with:
Every Wednesday the church had a Homeless Ministry. Every week individuals were able to receive a hot meal while hearing a message.
We volunteered with Zika Safe in Jaco. A group of individuals who went around to collect trash that families were not properly disposing of. This stops mosquitoes who carry the virus from repopullating as they do so in water surrounding trash and informs the coummunity of how to avoid spreading the virus.
We helped organize and clean Casafe, a Youth Ministry House. Casafe was founded by Lisa Postma and her organization “works with youth, aged 12-20, from the community of Jaco with the mission to provide a healthy and safe atmosphere.” Lisa was able to really inform us of what the youth was up against. Things like alcohol, prostitution and drugs are all things that the youth face.
We also did prayer walks throughout the city. We would walk around and pray for business, individuals, the town as a whole. Once time we went to a mountain where witchcraft is usually preformed and prayed over the city.
Once a week we had adventure days where we got to explore the city and the culture. These days were filled with hikes (through the rainforest to waterfalls), surfing (I sat back due to my injuries), visiting a National Park to see some wild life (where I got run down by a pack of wild raccoons on a beach) and bonfires on the beach (featuring a mariachi band).
Thank you so much to the supporters who have gotten me through month 1. You have allowed me to do so much work in Jaco, Costa Rica. Please feel free to ask me any questions that you may have. You all mean the World to me.
-Colleen
